MPG Calculator
Your real miles-per-gallon
Find your car's real-world fuel economy. Enter the miles driven on a tank and the gallons it took to refill.
How to measure MPG
Fill up, reset your trip meter, drive, then refill. Miles driven ÷ gallons added = MPG. Doing this over a few tanks gives a more reliable average than the dashboard estimate.
Why measure it yourself
The dashboard MPG readout and the EPA window-sticker number are both estimates; your real figure depends on your routes, climate and driving style. Tracking it over several fill-ups also gives an early warning — a sudden drop in MPG can signal low tire pressure, a dragging brake, a dirty air filter or a failing sensor.
City, highway and the metric version
Expect your city MPG to run lower than highway, since stop-and-go driving wastes energy braking. Add the gas price above for a cost-per-mile. Outside the US, fuel economy is usually quoted as litres per 100 km or miles per imperial gallon, which is larger than a US gallon — so the numbers don't translate directly.
MPG Calculator: frequently asked questions
How do I calculate MPG?
Divide the miles driven since your last fill-up by the number of gallons it took to fill back up.
Why is my real MPG lower than the sticker?
City driving, cold weather, short trips, cargo and aggressive driving all reduce real-world economy.
What is a good MPG?
It depends on the vehicle class: many compact cars get 30–40 MPG combined, hybrids 45–55, while trucks and large SUVs may see 18–22. Compare your figure to your model's EPA rating, not to other vehicle types.